HELLENIC LEAGUE: Shrivenham snap up Fowler for next season

SHRIVENHAM have secured the services of hotshot Josh Fowler for another season.

The young striker plundered 40 goals for the Hellenic League Premier Division outfit last term and manager Sam Collier is delighted that he has decided to stay despite interest from elsewhere.

“When you score 40 goals then it is inevitable that the phone is going to ring in the summer,” Collier said.

“But I spoke to Josh and he said that he is going to stay, which is great news.

“I told him that if he continues to play like he did last season then he is not going to be playing in the Hellenic League forever.

“He will benefit from at least another season with us, he is enjoying being here and it is great news all around that he is staying.”

The Shrivvy boss has also moved to snap up defender Adam Corcoran as he becomes the first player to confirm his exit from Wootton Bassett Town after Jeff Roberts stepped down last week.

Collier has also secured joint-players of the year Liam Edmundson and Matt Bown for the new campaign.

And the Barrington Park chief is hopeful that other players will follow suit.

“Like Josh, Liam and Matt had interest from elsewhere so I’m delighted that they are staying,” he said.

“It is now just getting around the players one by one, but I’m hopeful that most will be returning.”

Shrivenham will return to pre-season training on July 1 and Collier is expecting to have most of the squad for the new campaign sorted out by then.

“I’m talking to a couple of new faces at the moment,” he added. “It is just a matter of them confirming that they want to come.

“I think that when we return to pre-season training that I’ll have around 90 per cent of the squad sorted.”

Collier is also nearing the completion of his pre-season friendlies programme which will kick off against Swindon Town’s youth team on July 8 at Barrington Park.

The Shrivenham manager will then pit his wits against his father Mark when he brings his Chippenham Town side to visit, while Collier has also arranged games with Purton (July 26), New College Swindon (TBC) and Melksham Town (August 2).

The Barrington Park manager is also hopeful of a arranging a friendly with Southern League Division One South and West champions Cirencester Town.

“It was pretty easy to sort the game out with Chippenham - it was done over Sunday dinner,” Collier said.

“If we lose I won’t be doing the washing up on the Sunday - I haven’t done it for 25 years and I’m not going to start now!

“I’m pleased that we have got Melksham last, it will be a week before the season starts and it will be a good physical test.”